Surrender territory and cut military, drafted Ukraine plan proposes

Ukraine would be forced to lease part of its territory to Russia and reduce the size of its military under a plan drafted by US and Russian officials to end the war, according to reports.

US envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with adviser to Vladimir Putin, Kirill Dmitriev, in Miami last month, it is understood.

During the meeting, the pair thrashed out 28-point draft proposal to end the war.

The reports came as Volodymyr Zelensky met with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara as part of his efforts to pressure Vladimir Putin.

Ceding the Donbas to Ukraine

According to The Daily Telegraph, under the drafted deal, Ukraine would be forced to cede control of the eastern Donbas region.

Ukraine still maintains approximately 14.5 per cent of the territory according to latest analysis.

The measure would maintain Ukraine’s legal ownership of the Donbas while Russia may be expected to pay a ground fee to Kyiv.

Zelensky has repeatedly insisted there would be not territorial concessions.

Under Ukraine’s constitution ceding of territory would have to be put to a public vote.

In, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, the current battle lines would be frozen in place, according to Axios.

Reducing the size of Kyiv’s military

The plan would also put limits on Ukraine’s military and on its long range weapons in return for US security guarantees.

Under the plan Ukraine would be ordered to give up its critical stockpile of US weapons.

The Financial Times reported that no foreign troops would be allowed on Ukrainian soil.

One official familiar with the proposal told the paper the proposals were “heavily tilted towards Russia” and another said it was a Russian attempt to “play” the Trump administration.

“It’s not a plan but a mix of real, practical proposals with good intentions,” a Russian source told the FT. “Part of it is absolutely unacceptable for the Ukrainians.”

While not confirmed as being related to the talk or failure to find a peace agreement, General Keith Kellogg announced his intention to step down as special envoy in January.

Turkey meeting with Witkoff postponed

Zelenskyy and Erdogan, following Wednesday’s meeting, expressed their commitment to finding a peaceful settlement.

“We count on the strength of Turkish diplomacy, on (how) it’s understood in Moscow,” Zelensky said.

Steve Witkoff had been expected to speak to Zelensky in Turkey to be briefed on the talks, but that meeting was postponed.

It is understood that Zelensky intends to bring an alternative plan, drafted with European partners.

European officials and leaders have reportedly been kept in the dark about any details.

“We don’t really care about the Europeans,” a White House official told Politico. “It’s about Ukraine accepting.”

A European diplomat, commenting on the purported new US proposals, told the Press Association, the deal could be another attempt by the Trump administration “to push Kyiv into a corner”, but added there could be no solution that did not take into consideration Ukraine’s position or that of Washington’s European allies.

Turkish and Qatari officials have allegedly been involved in drafting the proposal and mediating between the US and Russia.

While Zelensky postponed the meeting, Dmitriev said the plan would largely be accepted by Russia as the Kremlin’s position “is really being heard”.

“It’s happening with the background of Russia definitely having additional successes on the battlefield.”